Eren's Slime bloodline powers surged to counteract the damage inflicted on his body.
His once-defined limbs and torso transformed into a malleable slime-like substance, losing their previous shape and structure. In response to the influx of Life Force, his body expanded in size and stature, adapting to accommodate the overwhelming energy he injected into his system.
Eren now resembled a monstrous entity, unlike anything the goddess had ever witnessed, despite her divine influence spanning across multiple worlds.
The unique slime-like physique not only reduced the damage inflicted on a cellular level but also enhanced Eren's efficiency in absorbing the Life Force. The constant strain on his body, caused by the rapid destruction and reconstruction of his cells, inadvertently pushed him to refine his bloodline further.
Subconsciously, Eren activated the Rootless Ranking Technique, stabilizing his condition and facilitating his rapid progress in ranking. The various elemental attainments that he cultivated manifested with newfound intensity as a result.
The goddess found herself questioning the nature of the creature she had allied with. Eren's capabilities exceeded her wildest imagination. After all, She was astounded that his Sin Series Ability had formed a strong connection with the demonic Plane at such an early stage. The goddess struggled to comprehend how a mere Expert-ranked Elder Seed could resist her divine Domain, even considering his home ground advantage.
Meanwhile, Eren remained completely engrossed in his task, paying no heed to the goddess. The combined effects of Life Drain, Hero's Heart, and the Domain of Gluttony worked seamlessly together, allowing him to accomplish the seemingly impossible.
As Eren relentlessly devoured the green star, its luminance began to fade rapidly. Within a span of just two minutes, he absorbed the entirety of the gift bestowed upon him by the goddess. Dispersing the Domain of Gluttony and deactivating his Abilities, Eren stood motionless, his eyes closed.
When the green radiance dissipated entirely, Grimdawn's naked form was unveiled to the goddess and the four Matriarchs. Despite losing all his clothes, Eren exuded an aura of complete control over his situation. Standing silently in his position, he only opened his eyes once he had fully assimilated his newfound gains. A subtle smile graced his lips, and he felt reborn.
Raising his hands before him, Eren marveled at his transformed body. Every fiber within him brimmed with potent Life Force. Utilizing his Soul Sense, he observed the subtle changes that had taken place.
The butcher had shed his slightly immature appearance, now emanating a mature aura. His black hair had grown significantly due to the cycles of cellular reconstruction and deconstruction, cascading down his back with volume and luster. His emerald green eyes possessed an enigmatic brilliance, captivating anyone who beheld them. His well-defined facial structure depicted a handsome young man in his mid-20s by mortal standards, exuding both strength and vitality.
A runic pattern adorned Eren's left chest, resembling an abstract form of a heart, intricately etched with green ink and accompanied by pulsating veins. This symbolized the elevated level of his Hero's Heart Ability, honed through its constant use under such intense and abnormal conditions.
However, Hero's Heart was not the only Ability that had grown stronger.
Eren noticed the emergence of complex runes on his fingers, signifying the further enhancement of his Life Drain Ability. He could sense that both Hero's Heart and Life Drain had doubled in potency, granting him greater physical boosts and a heightened ability to extract Life Force from his adversaries with utmost speed and efficiency.
The intense act of devouring the Life Force had bolstered Eren's Domain of Gluttony as well, strengthening its influence and expanding its reach.
But there was more to Eren's accomplishments.
Breaking into the liquid stage of the Expert rank was a tremendous leap for Eren, sparing him decades of arduous training and hard work. Considering the breadth and complexity of his ranking path, this progress was truly remarkable. Eren couldn't help but speculate that if regular Expert Rankers had endured the self-inflicted procedure he had just undergone in his shoes, they would likely have advanced to the Master Rank.
The gift bestowed upon Eren by the goddess further intensified the intricacy and mystique of his mana signatures. His mind, body, and soul experienced a profound rejuvenation after assimilating all the blessings the goddess had provided.
While observing Eren's naked form, the goddess marveled at his survival and subsequent flourishing after the audacious procedure he had willingly subjected himself. However, the tranquility of the moment shattered as her stone-statue vessel began cracking from multiple places, jolting her back to reality. Time was of the essence.
The goddess, her vessel crumbling, clutched her left hand in her right and utilized her powers to transform it into a mystical stone. With measured steps, she approached Eren, halting only when they stood within arm's reach of each other.
"It appears everything transpired according to your plan, Eren," the goddess spoke, paying no heed to his nudity. "Take hold of this," she commanded, extending the palm-sized mystic stone she had fashioned from her own vessel.
Curiosity sparked within Eren as he scrutinized the palm-sized stone, seemingly ordinary and devoid of distinctive features. Using his Soul Sense, he detected subtle and hidden patterns embedded deep within its core, yet nothing stood out prominently.
"I will use this to contact you once you have departed the world of Anfang. I will guide you to your first Elder Seed Artifact by divulging its location. I want to see how effectively you can wield it with your bloodline. However, whether you succeed in acquiring it or not will ultimately depend on your capabilities," the Great Mother explained with a smile.
Eren nodded, his gaze unwavering as he beheld the goddess, whose stone vessel seemed on the verge of disintegration. He took a deep breath and offered a light bow to the goddess before responding in a serious tone, "I express my gratitude for your gift, Great Mother. It astounds me that you possess such unwavering trust in our initial encounter. Nevertheless, I appreciate your swift actions."
